Refrigerator car construction



v. E. WEST 2,257,662

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 21, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 30, 1941.

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) O C) O O 0 0 C) O Q 6 0 QQQOQOQGQOQOQ O O o J L Sept. 30, 1941. v. E. WEST REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 21, 1938 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' [n l//7f0/' i/fcfor Wasf Affameg Patented Sept. 30, 1941 REFRIGERATOR CARGONSTRUCTION Victor E. West, New Kensington, Pa., assignor to Standard Railway Devices Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1938, Serial No. 246,976

16 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essential features of such a car are an insulated structure and a refrigerating means for use in warm weather or a heating means for use in cold weather.

The invention relates particularly to refrigerator cars of the overhead bunker type. Cars of this type have the refrigerant containers suspended immediately below the roof. They are often provided with drip pans below the containers to form refrigerant compartments below the roof and adjacent the side walls of the car. It is also common to provide vertical fiues associated with the side walls and extending to near the floor. These fiues serve as passages for the flow of refrigerated air from the refrigerant compartment to below the floor racks of the car so that it may circulate upwardly through the lading. The fiues also serve to drain off melted refrigerant when a foraminous or semi-foraminous container is used or condensation from the COntainer when liquid-retaining tanks are used.

It is an object of this invention to provide a strong, light refrigerant container well adapted to resist the inertia thrusts of shifting ice which occur during service movements of the car. A semi-foraminous container is often desirable, i. e., one having a foraminous upper portion to facilitate air circulation and an imperforate lower portion to retain brine and provide a low temperature. It is a further object of the invention, then, to provide a semi-foraminous container for use in an overhead bunker car.

Another object of the invention is to provide refrigerant containers which may be easily cleaned. Ice and salt often have foreign matter mixed with them, the foreign matter remaining in the bottom of the container after the ice melts and the salt dissolves. This creates an insulating layer on the bottom of the container andreduces the refrigerating efficiency. By providing a removable bottom for the container, the bottom may be easily and thoroughly cleaned.

In a semi-foraminous refrigerant container, the salt and brine collects in the bottom portion. Brine accelerates corrosion very greatly so it may be expected that parts of the container in contact with the brine will have to be repaired or'replaced, at relatively frequent intervals. It is an object of this invention to provide refrigerant containers with bottoms or lower portions which may be easily removed and replaced.

The upper portions of containers may require cleaning and repairing. The upper portions also ject of this invention is to provide a removable lower portion for a container so that the upper portion may be cleaned and repaired from within the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerant container with a lower portion which may be easily removed but which cannot accidentally release its load of refrigerant upon the lading. The lower portion rests upon rigidly fixed parts and may be removed only by raising one edge to near the roof. The weight of the refrigerant thus makes accidental removal unlikely but, in addition, means are provided to hold the bottom portion tightly in position. The removal of a few bolts, however, releases the bottom portion for removal.

Another object of the invention is to form the upper portion of the container from metallic sheet, the sheet being perforated and corrugated. The perforations are provided for air flow to the refrigerant while the corrugations stiffen the sides of the container and transfer thrusts thereon to the supporting members.

Further advantages of the invention will be.

apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial transverse section of a refrigerator car equipped with my invention. Insulation has been omitted to show more clearly the relation of the various parts.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows th method of removing or replacing the removable lower part of the container, the insulation having been omitted.

Fig, 5 shows a modified construction, insulation having been omitted.

The parts of a refrigerator car shown in Fig. 1 are side sheathing 2, outer side plate 3, inner side plate 4, roof sheets 5, running board 6, hatch frame I surrounding the hatch 8, metallic ceiling 9, drip pan in, false wall H providing the flue I 2, and center flue Wall l3. A plurality of spaced apart carlines M are preferably supported by and connected to the vertical frame members l5 of theside wall of the car.

A plurality of spaced apart brackets 25 having projecting parts 26 are preferably secured to the inner side plate 4 and frame members IS. A plurality of spaced apart supports 21 having oppositely projecting parts 28 are secured to the a of refrigerant in the lading space.

roof, and preferably to the carlines l4, near the center of the car. The brackets and supports 21 which are disposed intermediate of the ends of the refrigerant container have a cross section preferably similar to that shown at in Fig. 3. The brackets 25 and supports 21 at the ends of the refrigerant containers have a channel shaped section 3| with oppositely projecting flanges 32 as shown in Fig. 3. The flanges 32 support the lower portions of the refrigerant containers and the member 33 resists the motion thereof longitudinally of the car.

The lower portion of the refrigerant container 4| preferably comprises a pan 42 having an upstanding peripherical flange 43 and stiffening corrugations 44. The pan 42 rests upon the projecting parts 26 and 28 of the brackets 25 and supports 21. Fig. 4 shows the method of removing or replacing the pan 42. When it is inclined as shown, it may be moved upwardly into the container space and then allowed to settle in a substantially horizontal position upon the parts 26, 28. With this arrangement, there is little danger of accidental discharge of the contents of the container because the mass of the refrigerant tends to hold the pan 42 in contact with'the parts 26, 2B.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the side walls of the container are secured to the brackets 25 and supports 21 by rivets, such as the rivets 5! in Fig. 3. The end walls 52 each extend between a bracket 25 and support 21 and are secured thereto. The container walls 5!), 52 are preferably provided with apertures 53 for air circulation and stiffening corrugations 54 to resist the impact of shifting ice. Although the upper portion of the container 4! is shown consisting of perforated metallic sheets 50, 52, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereby. The use of any foraminous sheathing is: contemplated, such as, wire netting or expanded metal.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the container wall sheets 60, 6| are attached to the roof structure. For example, the sheet 6!] is provided with a flange 62 for attachment by the rivets B3 to the carlines I4. The sheet 6| is attached to a depending flange of the inner side plate 4. Members 64, 65 having projecting parts 66, '61

are secured to the wall sheets 60, 6| so that the pan 42 is supported from the upper portion of the container.

Means are provided to secure the pan 42 in position and positively prevent accidental discharge Figs. 1 to 3, the rods Hi extend between brackets 25 and supports 21 and are removably secured thereto, such as by the bolts 1 I. Clips '12 secured to the bottom of the pan 42 have holes which aline with holes in the rods 10 so that bolts 13 may be inserted to secure the pan 42 in position. The tie rods H1, in addition to forming the attaching means for the pan 42, strengthen the container by connecting the opposite sides.

The pan 42 may also be secured in position as shown in Fig. 5. Clips are secured to the bottom of the pan 42 and have holes which aline with holes in the projecting parts 66, 61 of the members 64, 65 to accommodate the bolts 8!. This arrangement eliminates the rod 10 shown in Fig. 1 and uses the pan 42 to connect the opposite sides of the container.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to As shown in the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator having a wall, a roof and a refrigerant container below said roof, the combination of a plurality of spaced apart brackets and a plurality of spaced apart supports secured to said roof, a pan having an upstanding peripherical flange, said pan resting upon projecting parts of said brackets and supports and forming the lower portion of said container, foraminous sheathing secured to said brackets and supports to form the upper portion of said container, means to removably secure said pan to said brackets and supports. 7

2. In a refrigerator having a wall, a roof and a refrigerant container below said roof, the combination of a plurality of spaced apart brackets and a plurality of spaced apart supports secured to said roof, a pan having an upstanding peripherical flange, said pan resting upon projecting parts of said brackets and supports and forming the lower portion of said container and metallic sheet secured to said brackets and supports to form the upper portion of said container, said sheet having apertures for air circulation.

3. In a refrigerator having a wall and a roof, a refrigerant container having the lower portion thereof detached from the upper portion thereof, meansto secure said upper portion to said refrigerator near the roof thereof, brackets secured to said wall, and supports secured to said roof on the opposite side of the container from said brackets, said brackets and supports having parts extending under said upper portion; the parts of said brackets being spaced from the parts of said supports, said lower portion being supported by said parts. a

4. In a refrigerator having a wall and a roof, a refrigerant container having the lower portion thereof detached from the upper portion thereof, means to secure said upper portion to said refrigerator near the roof thereof and brackets and supports secured to said roof on opposite sides of said container and having parts extending under said upper portion; the parts of said brackets bein spaced from the parts of said supports, said lower portion being supported by said parts.

5. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container near each of said walls in spaced apart relation to provide a space therebetween, a member in said space having depending spaced apart legs, said member being secured to said roof, means to secure each of said containers to one of said legs, and means to support the sides of saidcontainers adjacent said car walls.

6. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart wallsand a roof, a carline associated with said roof and extending between said walls, a refrigerant container near each of said walls in spaced 5 apart relation to provide a space therebetween,

member being secured to said roof, means to secure each of said containers to one of said legs, and means to support the sides of said containers adjacent said car walls comprising brackets secured to said walls.

8. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container near each of said walls in spaced apart relation to provide a space therebetween, a member in said space having depending spaced apart legs, said member being secured to said roof, means to secure each of said containers to one of said legs,

'means to support the sides of said containers adjacent said car walls, and spaced apart partitions secured to the adjacent sides of said legs to form a substantially vertical flue.

9. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container near each of said walls in spaced apart relation to provide a space therebetween, a member in said space having depending spaced apart legs, said member being secured to said roof, means to secure each of said containers to one of said legs, means to support the sides of said containers adjacent said car walls, spaced apart partitions secured to the adjacent sides of said legs to form a substantially vertical flue, and drip pans below said containers secured at their adjacent edges to said partitions.

10. A refrigerator car in which a wall and a roof form rigid and integral members thereof, a refrigerant container disposed below the roof and comprising detached upper and lower portions, a hatch in said roof above said container, said hatch having an area substantially less than the area of said container, means to secure said upper portion to said car near said roof, and members secured. to said upper portion on opposite sides thereof, the lower parts of said members projecting inwardly, the parts at one side of the container being spaced from the parts at the opposite side of the container a distance substantially less than the width of said lower portion, whereby said lower portion moves between said parts in a non-horizontal position and rests thereon in a substantially horizontal position.

11. A refrigerator car in which a wall and a roof form rigid and integral members thereof, a refrigerant container disposed below the roof and comprising detached upper and lower portions, a hatch in said roof above said container, said hatch having an area substantially less than the area of said container, means to secure said upper portion to said car near said roof, members secured to said refrigerator on opposite sides of said container and having parts extending under said upper portion, the parts at one side of the container being spaced from the parts at the opposite side of the container a distance substantially less than the width of said lower portion, whereby said lower portion moves between said parts in a non-horizontal position and rests thereon in a substantially horizontal position, and means operable from below said container for securing said lower portion in position.

12. A refrigerator car in which a wall and a roof form rigid and integral members thereof, a refrigerant container disposed below the roof and comprising detached upper and lower portions, a hatch in said roof above said container, said hatch having an area substantially less than the area of said container, means to secure said i at one side of the container being spaced from the parts at the opposite side of the container 1 a distance substantially less than the width of said lower portion, whereby said lower portion moves between said parts in a non-horizontal position and rests thereon in a substantially horizontal position.

13. A refrigerator car in which a wall and a roof form rigid and integral members thereof, a refrigerant container disposed below the roof and comprising detached upper and lower portions, a hatch in said roof above said container, said hatch having an area substantially less than the area of said container, means to secure said upper portion to said car near said roof, and members secured to said refrigerator on opposite sides of said container and having parts extending under said upper portion, the parts at one side of the container being spaced from the parts at the opposite side of the container a distance substantially less than the width of said lower portion, whereby said lower portion moves between said parts in a non-horizontal position and rests thereon in a substantially horizontal position.

14. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart walls and a roof, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers arranged below said roof and respectively adjacent said walls, means for supporting said containers including a member rigidly carried by the car structure and disposed in the space between said containers, said member including depending, spaced apart legs, means to secure said containers to the respective legs, spaced apart drip pans arranged respectively below said containers, and partitions upstanding from the adjacent edges of said drip pans disposed between said spaced apart legs and spaced apart to provide an air flue therebetween.

15. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart walls and a roof, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers arranged below said roof and respectively adjacent said walls, means for supporting said containers including a member rigidly carried by the car structure and disposed in the space between said containers, said member including depending, spaced apart legs, means to secure said containers to the respective legs, spaced apart drip pans arranged respectively below said containers, and partitions upstanding from the adjacent edges of said drip pans disposed between said spaced apart legs and spaced apart to provide an air flue therebetween, said containers and respective partitions being spaced apart to provide air passages therebetween.

16. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart walls and a roof, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers arranged in position below said roof and respectively adjacent said walls, a member rigidly carried by the car structure and disposed in the space between said containers, said member including depending, spaced apart legs, means to secure said containers to the respective legs and supporting means cooperating with said member for holding said containers in said position.

VICTOR E. WEST. 

